The Deshka River hosts one of the most productive wild salmon fisheries in the Matanuska-Susitna Basin (Mat-Su) and has long been a place of cultural importance. It is also among the warmest salmon systems in the Mat-Su with summer water temperatures regularly exceeding thresholds considered stressful for both juvenile and adult salmon. This year’s summer site tour brought 33 people out on the Deshka River to share the collaborative scientific research happening there, and to provide community leaders with current information on stream temperature and potential impacts to salmon and their habitat in the Mat-Su – both today, and in the future.
Over the course of four stops, ten presenters shared background on the history of the Deshka as a significant Susitna drainage salmon producer, Dena’ina historical use, and a sportfishing perspective on salmon and stream temperature. Participants also received updates on ongoing stream temperature science from Cook Inletkeeper and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These members of the Mat-Su Salmon Partnership have mapped summer and winter stream temperatures across the watershed and identified potential cold water refugia over the course of five years. Presenters also highlighted efforts to better understand streamflow in the watershed to aid temperature models, conservation and further the understanding of hydrology on small Alaskan streams – all which is of significant importance for conserving cold water fish in a changing climate
The Deshka River is one of six rivers in the Susitna River basin designated as a “Recreational River” under the Recreational Rivers Act, which was passed by the Alaska State Legislature in 1988 to ensure recreational access and maintain cultural and ecological characteristics of these rivers. To close the presentation sessions, staff from Alaska Department of Natural Resources provided an update on the Susitna Basin Recreational Rivers Management Plan which is currently being revised and inviting public input.
Based on current available science, Mat-Su streams are among the warmest statewide with the Deshka River being one of the warmest in the Mat-Su – and predicted to continue warming. Fortunately, scientists have identified cold-water refugia in the Deshka River which may be critical habitat for salmon in these warming watersheds and an important tool to help retain the Deshka River as a salmon stronghold into a warming future. This is important information for community leaders to understand so they can help shape a prosperous future for fish – and the human communities that have and continue to depend on them.
Thank you to the generous supporters of this year’s site tour: Trident Seafoods, Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association, Cook Inletkeeper, Trout Unlimited, Susitna River Coalition, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FishHound Expeditions and Chickaloon Village Traditional Council.
Special thanks to our presenters, as well as following boat operators: Drill Team 6 Fishing Excursions, Fishtale River Guides, Drifterz Paradise, Berg’s Frontier Fishing Guides, FishHound Expeditions and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Find an itinerary, map and presentation abstracts in the hand out
Read an article by Andy Couch about the tour in the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman
Learn more about the Deshka River temperature monitoring work in this fact sheet by Cook Inletkeeper and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Deshka River real time temperature monitoring site (located in between site tour stops #2 (river mile 4) and stop #3 (river mile 7/ADF&G weir).
Want to learn more about salmon habitat in a warming climate? Check back soon for more resources from the site tour and save-the-date for the Mat-Su Salmon Science and Conservation Symposium on November 14th and 15th, 2022. Registration and call for abstracts is open. Learn more here. Find updates on this website or sign up for our e-bulletins at bottom of www.matsusalmon.org.
